Whetstone Roundup

Girls team not fazed by recent meets

Enlarge ImageBuy This PhotoPAUL VERNON/THISWEEKSPORTSMaddie Wilming of the Whetstone softball team delivers a pitch against Brookhaven on April 8. The Braves will travel to Mifflin for a City-North game on Thursday, April 24.

At a glance

Below are the coming schedules for the Whetstone baseball, softball, boys tennis, track & field and boys volleyball teams:

BASEBALL

*April 24 -- At Mifflin in makeup from April 7

April 26 -- At Olentangy Orange with Ready

*April 28 -- At Brookhaven. The Braves beat the Bearcats 10-0 on April 8.

April 29 -- At Millersport

*April 30 -- Home vs. Linden-McKinley. The Braves beat the Panthers 20-0 on April 10.

SOFTBALL

*April 24 -- At Mifflin in makeup from April 7

April 25 -- Home vs. Bexley

April 26 -- At Reynoldsburg

*April 28 -- At Brookhaven. The Braves beat the Bearcats 20-0 on April 8.

April 29 -- Home vs. Worthington Kilbourne

*April 30 -- Home vs. Linden-McKinley. The Braves beat the Panthers 13-0 on April 10.

BOYS TENNIS

April 24 -- Home vs. Wellington

April 25 -- At Westland

April 28 -- At Linden-McKinley

April 30 -- Home vs. Grandview

TRACK & FIELD

April 25 -- Wildcat Invitational at Westerville South

April 30 -- Braves Invitational at home

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

April 26 -- Wildcat Classic at Westerville South

*League contest

Just as it didn't get overly excited about its strong performances in its first two meets this spring, the Whetstone High School girls track and field team isn't too concerned about its last two performances.

The Braves competed against Watterson and Grandview in a tri-meet April 16 and in the Dublin Classic on April 19 at Coffman with more than half of their athletes being out of town for spring break.

Whetstone scored only 11 points to finish behind Watterson (84) and Grandview (67) and did not score in the 15-team Coffman Classic.

"We've had a meet (against Bexley on April 3) canceled and we haven't had close to a full team the past two meets," coach Kofi Owusu-Ansah said. "So we're still trying to figure out where we are and what we need to do. We've only seen everyone for two events and one of those was a relay meet (Red Edwards Golden Eagle Relays at Big Walnut on April 12)."

Whetstone, which scored 87 points in a tri-meet April 8 to beat Beechcroft (38) and Columbus West (13), will compete in the Wildcat Invitational on Friday, April 25, at Westerville South before playing host to the Braves Invitational on Wednesday, April 30.

"We're excited about our next two meets and being able to compete at full strength," Owusu-Ansah said. "The (Wildcat Invitational) will be against strong competition and an opportunity to compete against the suburban schools. It should push us as we head into our invitational, which is usually a pretty good gauge for the City League championships."

Owusu-Ansah has been impressed with the performances of juniors Edwina Amagnoh, Mia Barnes and Bianca McLemore and sophomores Joleah Mays, Adrionna Mills and Alasha Williams.

The only one of the six athletes to earn a letter last season was McLemore, who was a Division I regional qualifier in the long jump.

"We've got a number of young girls stepping up and filling roles, and that's exciting," Owusu-Ansah said. "Williams is strong in the 400 (meters) and anchors our (1,600 relay). Barnes won the 100 hurdles and Mays won the 300 hurdles against Beechcroft and West.

"Mills has been competitive in the long jump and the 100, although she hasn't won yet, and she has been good on the (800 relay). Edwina Amagnoh complemented Arionna Darling in throws last year and is trying to take a step forward and own those events this year."

Darling, a 2013 graduate who owns the program records in the shot put and discus, finished 13th in the shot put at state last year.

Boys track team set for Braves Invite

The boys track team had only eight athletes available for practices and two meets during spring break.

Whetstone scored only nine points in the tri-meet against Watterson (84.5) and Grandview (72.5) and did not score in the Dublin Classic.

"Beechcroft and West have small numbers like we do, so even at full strength we know this will be a growing year for us," coach Joe Monda said. "We're a very young team with only two seniors and we're going to be better in distance than sprints, which is unusual for us."

Both of the Braves' seniors, Hayden Palmer and Evan Myers, compete in the distance events.

Among the athletes who have impressed Monda are junior Edwin Amagnoh, sophomore Clayton Peacock and freshman Matt Hausman.

"Peacock and Hausman are looking good in middle distance and I think they will be competitive in the 800 and (1,600)," Monda said. "I am very pleased by Matt because he's been a nice surprise. Edwin Amagnoh has been a good addition to the sprint team."

Monda said his team is looking forward to competing in the Braves Invitational.

"It's always the first time the City schools get together to compete against each other and gives us an opportunity to see what everyone has," Monda said. "In addition to it being a good preview for the City meet, our boys always put their best foot forward to compete at home in front of a nice crowd."

Baseball team endures first loss of season

The baseball team lost for the first time this season, falling to Crooksville 8-4 in nine innings in the second game of a doubleheader April 19 at Belpre.

Whetstone, which beat Belpre 20-2 in the first game, was 9-1 overall before playing Eastmoor Academy on April 21 and was 4-0 in the City League-North Division before playing Columbus East and Northland on April 22 and 23, respectively.

"I'm really happy with the way we're playing," coach Tim Broskie said. "We thought we won the game in the eighth inning. We had a suicide squeeze and scored. We were already celebrating when the umpires said our batter stepped on the plate and was out. We didn't score and then gave up four (runs) in the top of the ninth.

"We led 4-0 in the sixth and thought we won in the eighth, so for those reasons, it hurt to lose. But we fought, competed and played hard and came up short. I'm still very happy with the way things are going."

Marcus Shaffer (RF) was 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI and was hit by a pitch against Crooksville and was 2-for-2 with a double, walk and RBI against Belpre.

Whetstone scored 17 runs in the first inning against Belpre, which entered the game with a 5-4 record.

Also against Belpre, Sam Price (SS) was 3-for-4 with four RBI, Zach Barnum (2B) was 2-for-3 with three RBI and Chris Hutchings (CF) was 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI double.

"Our outfielders all had great days at the plate and on defense," Broskie said. "Shaffer, Hutchings and Matt Ray (LF) all hit the ball hard."